Converter for ignition systems



Nov. 23,1948.

J. T. OSTERMAN CONVERTER FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS z Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed New. 9, 1945 INVENTOR. JOSEPH T. OSTEEMAN AT: OPNEX Nov. 23, 1948.

Filed NOV. 9, 1946 J. T. OSTERMAN CONVERTER -FOR IGNITION SYSTEMS v 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 32 F 1 .2.- V loJ/ V I2 I 29 I T 5 l2 3 T 9 '4 l3 l3 3 -21 fiz 3 z I 24 l 12 INVENTOR. JOSEPH T. OSTEEMAN Patented Nov. 23, 1948 UNITED STATES Parr-1m CONVERTERFOR IGNITION. SYSTEMS i" .Joseph ,T. Osterman, Notthaiup-tonmMassl, as-i signer to AmericanwBoschiflnrporatiomispvingfield, Mass.,: at corporatiomdfi New :ZYork "ApplicationNoveniber 9, 1946;"SefialiNb. 7093121 reclaims. o1.;e15 "-:57):-

This invention relatesto ignitionsystems for internal combustion engines A and 'more particularly-to a high frequency converterunit for use in an ignition system of an internalcombustion quickly interposed in the leads of ,ahigh tension system to convert said system-to'a.highvfrequency system. i

Another object of 'theinvention is to provide a relatively simple and-economical, yet efficient, high frequency converter for ignitionsystems;

Another object f the invention is to provide a high frequency converter of the type set forth wherein all of the necessarycomponents toconvert a high tension system to a high frequency system are hermeticallysealed in-asingle unit and which may be impregnated with aniinsulating'material after assembly and sealing of the unit.

Another object of the invention is to'provide a converter unit of:the type set forth which unit is relatively free from expensive soldered connections.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from -the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. It will be understood that many changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited tothe exact details of construction and arrangement of partsshown-and described, as the preferred form-of the invention has been shown by way of illustration-only.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic viewof anignition system embodying the'invention; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through a high'frequency converter constructed according to the present invention.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention,

there-has been-shown diagrammatically in Fig. "1

a high frequency ignition system empioyi-ng a converter "such as the P present invention; This system; which is :of the 'type generally' disclosed in 'P at'ent Nu'i'nb'er 1,37-6,846=-to whisler comprises the conventional *currentsupply means A from which current passes to -the distributor B which is connected -bythe-leads C to each of "the cylim ders of the engine which are adapted to be 'ig- 'n'ited my F spark 'plugs" D, one-of which has 'been shown-by way *of illustrations Inter-posed in' -the leads- E from the distributor e3 are the converter "units and the present invention relates primarily to the provision of "a *neW- and improved high frequency converter unit-adapted to i be interpo'se'cl in th e leads -of a conventional high-tension ignition system to convert said system to a high frequencysystem having all of the advantages of such high 'frequency 'systems as pointed out in the-aforementioned Wlii'sler patentd The converter comprises a condenser F adapted to receive current 'from' the usual current source as shown and described and to.-discharge through a sparkagap-G tothe inductively coupled primary H andsecondary .I, -which.secondarly connectedoto ithe sparksplugiD and adapted ,to

supply"high zfrequency currentxthereto.

'flhehigh frequency converter] unit, "the :details :of which are showmin a Eig. 2, comprises :a t me'- talliccasing l or :housing i; containing the conven- *tional'type :tubulan paperand :foiled wound condenserizZ which ;wound' on the arbor=formedi by =thepaperv tubes 3 and-.4 which are joineditogether by cementing-or :the :like.

Within the tube 3- is positioned the sparkr ap ::which.comprises.the casingi of glassor the like and having athe metallic end plates-6 and .1 -which are-secured toroppositerendsi of the casing 5- and which support thereleetrodes 8 and S-respectively. The terminal 10,.adaptedto be-connected-to a harness lead of the ignitioni systemhs formedof a metallic insertlin the molded plastic member ll whichtalsoihasr-theinsert l2 imoldedqthere with-and swhichtis adapted to be secured 1 to the casing I by circumferentiallysoldering-the-cnd l3 tortheccasing .l. v

The iopposite vendo'if the casing l is adapted to be, closed vby theImolded plasticmember l4 which. has thehollowmetallic terminal,l5 molded therein and rwhichlalso has an annular insert .lzhaving the end 13 adapted to he secured to the casing l by soldering-vas previously described.

The molded plastic member -l41has1the tufloular extension l6 adapted to, -be surroundedsbyt-the ipapertube spacer I] and-adapted -to contain the arbor ill for the primary I9. This primary consists of a space-wound single layer winding on the paper tube I8 and is adapted to be connected at its upper end to the terminal 20 which is also connected to the terminal 1 on the spark gap, and at its opposite end is soldered to the clip 2| which, in turn, is soldered to the grounding clip 22 for the primary and which is interposed between the extension It on the cap member l4 and the wall of the casing l for grounding the primary through said casing.

Within the arbor l8 for the primary is positioned the secondary 23 which is wound on the paper tube having the metal end cap terminals 24 and 25. The end cap 25 .is held in contact with the contact member 20 by the-coil spring 26 which is interposed between the terminal member l5 and the terminal 24 and which spring is adapted to electrically connect said terminals 24' and I5.

The spring washer 21 is provided for loading the condenser against the terminal plate 28 for the condenser which is spring loaded through the gap and secondary by the Spring 26 and which terminal plate 28 is provided with radial slots, not shown, for allowing the passage of impregnating material to the interior of the con- .verter.

Between the condenser and the adjacent wall of the casing l is provided the insulating tube 29.

Between the grounding clip 22 for the primary and the adjacent wall of the casing I is positioned the end of the condenser grounding strip 30 for grounding the condenser to the casing l.

The terminal III is adapted to be connected to the ignition lead from the distributor and the terminal l5 of the converter is adaptedto be connected to the terminal to the spark plug.

Within the tubular arbor for the secondary 23 is positioned the bellowsfll of rubber or other .suitable resilient material which functions as a temperature expansion compensator for the oil impregnation with which the interior of the converter is filled through the hollow terminal l after the converter has been completely assembled and then the plug 32 is inductively sold-cred in the end of the hollow opening in the terminal ill to prevent escape of any of the oil with which the converter is completely filled.

The washer 33 is provided to load the primary arbor or insulator against the terminal 26.

In operation the condenser 2 is charged by the usual current source-and said condenser discharges through the spark gap which is connected to the primary and secondary which are inductively coupled and the secondary is connected to the terminal i which is adapted to be connected to a lead from the conventional spark plug to supply high frequency current to the spark plug in the usual manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided simple, efficient and economical means for obtaining all of the objects and advantages of the invention.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a tubular casing, molded cap members of insulating material adapted to overlie the opposite ends of said casing, said cap members having inserts forming terminal members for connection to leads of an ignition system, and also having flanged inserts secured to said casing for securing said terminals and cap members in position thereon, spark gap, and a transformer comprising primary and secondary coil members in said casing for forming a high frequency converter adapted to be interposed in the ignition lead of an internal combustion engine.

2. In a device of the character described, a tubular metallic casing, molded cap members of insulating material, said cap members having inserts forming terminals for connection to leads of an ignition system and supports for supporting said cap members in position on the ends of said casing, one of said cap members having a hollow extension portion in said casing, a spark gap, condenser, a hollow primary and a secondary member in said casing, said secondary member being located within said hollow primary member and said primary member having a portion extending into said hollow extension portion of said cap member for positioning the members in aligned relation with the adjacent terminal member.

3. In a device of the character described, a casing, a spark gap, condenser, primary and secondary members in said casing to form a high frequency converter for ignition systems for internal combustion engines, said primary and secondary members being in telescoping relation, and a bellows within a hollow central portion of said telescoping members, said casing being filled with oil and said bellows being adapted to function as a temperature expansion compensator for said oil.

4. In a device of the character described, a casing, a spark gap, condenser, primary and secondary members in said casing to form a high frequency converter for ignition systems for internal combustion engines, said primary and secondary members being in telescoping relation, and a resilient bellows within a hollow central portion of said telescoping members, said casing being filled with oil and said resilient bellows being adapted to function as a temperature expansion compensator for said oil.

5. In a device of the character described, a tubular metallic casing, molded cap members of insulating material, one adapted to extend over each end of said casing, a terminal member supported by each of said cap members, each of said cap members having a supporting flange secured thereto and secured to said casing adjacent an end thereof for securing said cap members in position over the ends of said casing, and spark gap, condenser and transformer elements in said casing with said spark gap in electrical connection with one of said terminals and said secondary in electrical connection with the other of said terminals and said device forming a high frequency converter for an ignition system for internal combustion engines.

6. In a device of the character described, a casing, said casing having terminals adjacent the opposite ends thereof adapted to be connected to the leads of an ignition system, a spark gap, condenser'and transformer elements in said casing whereby to form a high frequency converter for ignition systems, said casing containing a liquid insulating medium, and a temperature expansion compensating element in said casing in said liquid insulating medium.

7. In a device of the character described, a casing, said casing, having terminals adjacent the opposite ends thereof adapted to be connected to the leads of an ignition system, a spark gap, condenser and transformer elements in said casing whereby to form a high frequency converter for ignition systems, said casing containing a liquid insulating medium, and a resilient temperature expansion compensating element in said casing in said liquid insulating medium.

8. In. a device of the character described, a casing, said casing having terminals adjacent the opposite ends thereof adapted to be connected to the leads of an ignition system, a spark gap, condenser and transformer elements in said casing containing a liquid insulating medium, and a temperature expansion compensating element in said casing in said liquid insulating medium, one of said terminals having means whereby said insulating medium may be inserted into said casing.

9. In a device of the character described, a casing, cap members extending over the opposite ends of said casing and each having portions for securing said cap members on said casing, a spark gap and transformer in said casing, a, terminal member supported by each of said cap members,

one of said terminal members having an opening therethrough and means for closing said opening whereby a liquid insulating medium may be inserted into said casing through said opening after said cap members have been positioned on said casing and means for sealing said opening to prevent escape of said insulating medium.

10. In a device of the character described, a casing, spark gap and transformer members in aligned relation in said casing, a condenser in said casing, terminal members secured adjacent the opposite ends of said casing whereby said unit may be interposed in the leads of an ignition system, said transformer member comprising a hollow primary member, a secondary member in said hollow primary member and a contact spring also in said hollow primary member for loading said secondary member against the adjacent contact of said spark gap and said contact spring electrically connecting said secondary member with the adjacent terminal member.

11. In a device of the'character described, a casing, spark gap and transformer members in aligned relation in said casing, a con-denser in said casing, terminal members adapted to be secured adjacent the opposite ends of said casing whereby said unit may be interposed in the leads of an ignition system, said transformer member comprising primary and secondary members in telescoping relation and a contact spring adapted to load said secondary against the contact of said spark gap and to electrically connect said secondary with the adjacent terminal member, said secondary having a hollow portion, a liquid insulating medium in said hollow portion and a temperature expansion compensating bellows therein.

12. In a device of the character described, a casing having openings at its opposite ends, spark gap and transformer members in aligned relation in said casing, a condenser in said casing, cap members closing the opening at the opposite ends of said casing, terminal members secured adjacent the opposite ends of said casing whereby said unit may be interposed in the leads of an ignition system, said transformer member comprising primary and secondary members in telescoping relation and a contact spring within said primary member for loading said secondary against a contact of said spark gap and electrically connecting said secondary with the adjacent terminal member and a resilient clip connected to said primary and interposed between the wall of said casing and a portion of one of said cap members for grounding said primary to said casing.

JOSEPH 'I. OSTERMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,624,951 Holthouse Apr. 19, 1927 2,378,893 Berkey June 26, 1945 2,392,171 Marsh Jan. 1, 1946 2,394,768 Harkness Feb. 12, 1946 

